Indie Film Release Guide: October 23rd [An ONTD Original]
There are a couple of big studio releases this week. Warner Bros sent The Witches to HBO Max, but 20th Century’s The Empty Man will be playing to largely empty theaters nationwide. Several of the weekend’s indie releases are also getting theatrical/drive-in releases, but there are plenty being released straight to streaming if you’re not keen on going to theaters just yet.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. All films listed will be available at their respective sources on Friday unless otherwise noted. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have already come to VOD: October 16th, October 9th, and October 2nd.
Bad Hair
Click to viewStars: Elle Lorraine, Lena Waithe, Yaani King Mondschein, Vanessa Williams
Writer/Director: Justin Simien
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Plot: In 1989 an ambitious young woman gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career may come at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.
What you should know: Premiered at Sundance 2020.
Where to stream: Hulu
Rebecca
Stars: Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Riley
Writer: Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse
Director: Ben Wheatley
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance
Plot: A young newlywed arrives at her husband's imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier, and preceded by a 1940 Alfred Hitchock adaptation.
Where to stream: Netflix, available now
Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova, Nicoleta Ciobanu
Writer: Peter Baynham, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jena Friedman, Anthony Hines, Lee Kern, Dan Mazer, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Swimer
Director: Jason Woliner
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Follow-up film to the 2006 comedy centering on the real-life adventures of a fictional Kazakh television journalist named Borat.
What you should know: The film was made in secret, for obvious reasons, and includes Republican political figures.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Totally Under Control
Director: Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, Suzanne Hillinger
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: An in-depth look at how the United States government handled the response to the COVID-19 outbreak during the early months of the pandemic.
What you should know: Director Alex Gibney has previously made documentaries about Scientology, Elizabeth Holmes and Steve Jobs.
Where to stream: Hulu, available now
After We Collided
Stars: Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Louise Lombard, Dylan Sprouse
Writer: Anna Todd, Mario Celaya,
Director: Roger Kumble
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: In this second installment based on the worldwide bestseller After, we follow Hessa’s intense breakup and its aftermath. Will love overcome the past?
What you should know: Based on the novel by Anna Todd, the film is a sequel to 2019’s After.
Where to watch: In theaters
Ham on Rye
Stars: Haley Bodell, Audrey Boos, Gabriella Herrera, Adam Torres
Writer: Tyler Taormina, Eric Berger
Director: Tyler Taormina
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A bizarre rite of passage at the local deli determines the fate of a generation of teenagers, leading some to escape their suburban town and dooming others to remain.
What you should know: 90’s icons Lori Beth Denberg and Danny Tamberelli also make appearances in this film.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
Friendsgiving
Stars: Malin Akerman, Kat Dennings, Aisha Tyler, Christine Taylor
Writer/Director: Nicol Paone
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Molly and Abbey, along with their crew of close friends and acquaintances, host a dysfunctional, comical and chaotic Thanksgiving dinner.
What you should know: This is director Nicol Paone’s feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Radium Girls
Stars: Joey King, Abby Quinn, Cara Seymour, Scott Shepherd
Writer: Ginny Mohler, Brittany Shaw
Director: Lydia Dean Pilcher, Ginny Mohler
Genre: Drama
Plot: In the 1920s, a group of factory workers advocate for safer work conditions after some of their colleagues become ill from radium exposure.
What you should know: Based on a horribly sad true story, the film features both real and composite characters.
Where to stream: In theaters and virtual cinemas
The Place of No Words
Stars: Nicole Elizabeth Berger, Eric Christian Olsen, Bodhi Palmer, Teresa Palmer
Writer: Mark Webber
Genre: Fantasy
Plot: A young boy battles the complexities of a grown-up world with his father.
What you should know: Writer/director Mark Webber may be best known for his role as Stephen Stills in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Synchronic
Stars: Jamie Dornan, Anthony Mackie, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides
Writer: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Director: Justin Benson
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Plot: Two New Orleans paramedics' lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.
What you should know: Filmed in New Orleans.
Where to watch: In theaters
Coming Home Again
Stars: Justin Chon, Jackie Chung, Christina July Kim, John Lie
Writer: Wayne Wang, Chang-rae Lee
Director: Wayne Wang
Genre: Drama
Plot: A Korean American man takes care of his sick mother as she teaches him her traditional recipes.
What you should know: Adapted from an article by Chang-rae Lee.
Where to watch: In theaters and available VOD
More New Releases
The Witches (Trailer)
The Empty Man (Trailer)
Over the Moon (Trailer)
White Noise (Trailer)
How to Fix a Primary (Trailer)
Beasts Clawing at Straws (Trailer)
Midnight in Paris (Trailer)
New to Streaming
On the Rocks (Trailer) is available on Apple+
Yes, God, Yes (Trailer) is available on Netflix
Emma (Trailer) is available on HBO Max
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?